Evil Muslim conspiracy...

quote:

---

The cause is almost always ignorance.

---

Well, no doubt about that. Remember, I asked, "Does religion ever cause anything bad?" And you said, "Sure, sometimes." So, I would like to know specifically what those times are. Maybe religion only contributes to something bad, in addition to ignorance, nationalism, inequality, or whatever else, and I am curious about specifically anything about religion that you may think either causes or contributes to something bad. Yes, I am trying to trap you in a corner.Edited by ApostateAbe, : clarifying rephrase

Religion itself doesn't cause anything bad, but it often gets used to do bad things. Religion is neither good or bad, what people do can be.When people use religion as justification for doing bad things, you can say that "religion was a contributing factor." In addition, when we go through history we find acts such as the repeated Jewish pogroms where I would say that religion was predominately the cause. Of course, even there the wealth, property and influence that the Jews had stayed and got incorporated into the estates of the Christians.The problem is that strongly held beliefs, religious, nationalistic, racist, ethnic can all be manipulated to lead folk into very dumb actions.

---

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

Do you think Sura 8 verse 39 was ever a contributing factor to violence among Muslims?

Not a good question.Sura 8 and Sura 9 are both describing periods of war. In particular, Sura 8:38-39 are setting limits on violence.But it has been used by others to justify violence and as so often the case, ignorance is enough to get people to do really horrid things.You need to separate the religion and religious texts from how they are used.

---

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

Sorry. You seem to know what I mean. How would you phrase the question and how would you answer it?

I'll try and see if this is what you are asking?Can religion be used to motivate people or to allow them to self-justify what would normally be horrific acts?Is that what you are asking?

---

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

No, my question is specifically about Sura 8 verse 39. Maybe this is a good way to phrase it: Can the existence of Sura 8 verse 39 within the Kuran make a bad thing real, worse or more likely?

No.

---

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

Can the existence of any passage within the Kuran make a bad thing real, worse or more likely?

No.

---

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

Can the existence of any passage within the Bible make a bad thing real, worse or more likely? For example, Exodus 22:18--"Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live."

With these passages in the bible and other ancient texts, you should start with the premise that it's all nonsense which should be ignored unless and until proved otherwise.This will be "heresy" or "blasphemy" to some, but there really is no use in perpetuating ancient nonsense.We have enough current nonsense to deal with as it is.

---

Religious belief does not constitute scientific evidence, nor does it convey scientific knowledge.

No.

---

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

If Exodus 22:18 had been excluded from the book of Exodus, do you think just as many people would have been killed by Christians?Edited by ApostateAbe, : No reason given.

Unfortunately.People have never been at a loss for excuses.

---

Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!